Professor Simon Neill
Professor in Physical Oceanography

Affiliations
Contact info
Room: Room 212, Marine Centre Wales Phone: 01248 383938
Email: s.p.neill@bangor.ac.uk
Web: Google Scholar; ResearchGate; Amazon Author Page; Twitter; Google Knowledge Panel
I am professor in physical oceanography, specializing in ocean renewable energy: characterizing the wave and tidal energy resource, understanding wave-tide interaction, optimizing grid integration of arrays of marine renewable energy devices, and quantifying the environmental impacts of extracting energy from the oceans. I am founder and course director of an MSc in Marine Renewable Energy, and committee member of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), working on revising IEC Technical Specification 62600-201: Tidal Energy Resource Assessment and Characterization. I am a member of the editorial board of the Elsevier journal Renewable Energy, have written a textbook on marine energy "Fundamentals of Ocean Renewable Energy: Generating Electricity from the Sea", and am lead sediment scientist at FORCE (Fundy Ocean Research Center for Energy). I also have other shelf sea research interests, including palaeoceanography, sediment dynamics, and simulating the dispersal of marine organisms and microplastics.
I currently lead a wide range of research projects at Bangor University, including:
- NERC – SE Asia Plastics. South East Asia MArine Plastics (SEAmap): Reduction, Control and Mitigation of Marine Plastic Pollution in the Philippines. Neill SP (PI), Hiddink JG, Robins PE, Lewis MJ, Skov MW, Dunn CP (School of Natural Sciences), Taboada E (University of San Carlos, Philippines); £708,034. 2020-2023.
- European Regional Development Fund. Smart Efficient Energy Centre (SEEC) (£7M) Simon Neill (PI), Iestyn Pierce & Graham Ormondroyd. 2019-2023.
Research Areas
- 2004
- Published
A progress report on the control of the free surface in a 3D Navier Stokes solver for coastal applications.
Gejadze, I., Copeland, G., Neill, S. P., Fang, F. & Pain, C., 1 Jan 2004, p. 681-694.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Observations and numerical modelling of a non-buoyant front in the Tay Estuary, Scotland.
Neill, S. P., Copeland, G. J., Ferrier, G. & Folkard, A. M., 1 Jan 2004, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 59, 1, p. 173-184Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Oceanographic observations in the Savick Brook.
Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Jan 2004, 2004 ed. Unknown.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
- Published
In situ measurements of spring-neap variations to unsteady island wake development in the Firth of Forth, Scotland.
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jun 2004, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 60, 2, p. 229-239Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Observations and simulations of an unsteady island wake in the Firth of Forth, Scotland.
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jul 2004, In: Ocean Dynamics. 54, 3-4, p. 324-332Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2005
- Published
Estimates of the extreme meteorological and oceanographic conditions near Amlwch.
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jan 2005, 2005 ed. Unknown.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned report
- Published
Modelling of SAR signatures of bathymetric features in the Bristol Channel using a coupled wave-current model
Macklin, T., Wolf, J., Wakelin, S., Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Jan 2005, p. 611-618.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
Observing estuarine currents and fronts in the Tay Estuary, Scotland, using an airborne SAR with along-track interferometry (ATI)
Ferrier, G., Macklin, J. T., Neill, S. P., Folkard, A. M., Copeland, G. J. & Anderson, J. M., 20 Oct 2005, In: International Journal of Remote Sensing. 26, 20, p. 4399-4404Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2006
- Published
The benefits of combining coupled wave-current models with SAR observations for the interpretation of ocean-surface currents.
Macklin, T., Wolf, J., Wakelin, S., Gommenginger, C., Ferrier, G., Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
The benefits of combining coupled wave-current models with SAR observations for the interpretation of ocean-surface currents.
Macklin, T., Wolf, J., Wakelin, S., Gommenginger, C., Ferrier, G., Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 23 Jan 2006.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- 2007
- Published
An enhanced depth-averaged tidal model for morphological studies in the presence of rotary currents.
Neill, S. P., Hashemi, M. R. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jan 2007, In: Continental Shelf Research. 27, 1, p. 82-102Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The tidal flux in the Firth of Forth
Elliott, A. J. & Neill, S. P., 1 Mar 2007, In: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 160, 1, p. 25-32Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Simulating storm waves in the Irish Sea
Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 1 Jun 2007, In: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Maritime Engineering. 160, 2, p. 57-64Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2008
- Published
A model of inter-annual variability in beach levels.
Neill, S. P., Elliott, A. & Hashemi, R. M., 15 Aug 2008, In: Continental Shelf Research. 28, 14, p. 1769-1781Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The role of Coriolis in sandbank formation due to a headland/island system.
Neill, S. P., 10 Sept 2008, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 79, 3, p. 419-428Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Tidal and surge modelling using differential quadrature: a case study in the Bristol Channel.
Hashemi, M. R., Abedini, M. J., Neill, S. P. & Malekzadeh, P., 1 Oct 2008, In: Coastal Engineering. 55, 10, p. 811-819Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2009
- Published
A numerical study of lateral grain size sorting by an estuarine front.
Neill, S. P., 10 Feb 2009, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 81, 3, p. 345-352Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Changes in wave climate over the northwest European shelf seas during the last 12,000 years.
Neill, S. P., Scourse, J. D., Bigg, G. R. & Uehara, K., 17 Jun 2009, In: Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans. 114, p. C06015Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The formation of headland/island sandbanks.
Neill, S. & Scourse, J. D., 15 Oct 2009, In: Continental Shelf Research. 29, 18, p. 2167-2177Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Context dependency of relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning is different for multiple ecosystem functions.
Hiddink, J. G., Davies, T. W., Perkins, M., Machairopoulou, M. & Neill, S. P., 1 Dec 2009, In: Oikos. 118, 12, p. 1892-1900Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The impact of tidal stream turbines on large-scale sediment dynamics.
Neill, S. P., Litt, E. J., Couch, S. J. & Davies, A. G., 1 Dec 2009, In: Renewable Energy. 34, 12, p. 2803-2812Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2010
- Published
Evolution of bed shear stress distribution over the northwest European shelf seas during the last 12,000 years.
Neill, S. P. & Scourse, J. D., 1 Jan 2010, In: Ocean Dynamics. 60, 5, p. 1139-1156Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Using an artificial neural network to model seasonal changes in beach profiles
Hashemi, M. R., Ghadampur, Z. & Neill, S. P., 1 Oct 2010, In: Ocean Engineering. 37, 14-15, p. 1345-1356Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Second-generation environmental sequencing unmasks marine metazoan biodiversity.
Fonseca, V. G., Carvalho, G. R., Sung, W., Johnson, H. F., Power, D. M., Neill, S. P., Packer, M., Blaxter, M. L., Lambshead, J. D., Thomas, W. K. & Creer, S., 19 Oct 2010, In: Nature Communications. 1, 7, p. 98Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2012
- Published
Impact of tidal energy converter (TEC) arrays on the dynamics of headland sand banks
Neill, S. P., Jordan, J. R. & Couch, S. J., 1 Jan 2012, In: Renewable Energy. 37, 1, p. 387-397Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A numerical study of marine larval dispersal in the presence of an axial convergent front
Robins, P., Neill, S. & Gimenez Noya, J., 20 Mar 2012, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 100, p. 172-185Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2013
- Published
Identification of genetically and oceanographically distinct blooms of jellyfish
Lee, P. L., Dawson, M. N., Neill, S. P., Robins, P. E., Houghton, J. D., Doyle, T. K. & Hays, G. C., 1 Mar 2013, In: Journal of the Royal Society Interface. 10, 80, p. 20120920Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Physical and biological controls on larval dispersal and connectivity in a highly energetic shelf sea
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Gimenez, L., Jenkins, S. R. & Malham, S. K., 1 Mar 2013, In: Limnology and Oceanography. 58, 2, p. 505-524Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Wave power variability over the northwest European shelf seas
Neill, S. P. & Hashemi, R., 1 Jun 2013, In: Applied Energy. 106, p. 31-46Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The influence of wind gustiness on estimating the wave power resource
Goward Brown, A., Neill, S. & Lewis, M., 10 Nov 2013, In: International Journal of Marine Energy. 3-4, p. e1-e10Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Environmental drivers of small scale spatial variation in the reproductive schedule of a commercially important bivalve mollusc
Hold, N., Murray, L. G., Hinz, H., Neill, S. P., Lass, S., Lo, M. & Kaiser, M. J., 1 Dec 2013, In: Marine Environmental Research. 92, p. 144-153Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2014
- Published
The role of tidal asymmetry in characterizing the tidal energy resource of Orkney
Neill, S. P., Hashemi, M. R. & Lewis, M. J., 4 Mar 2014, In: Renewable Energy. 68, p. 337-350Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
The role of tides in shelf-scale simulations of the wave energy resource
Hashemi, M. R. & Neill, S. P., 18 Apr 2014, In: Renewable Energy. 69, p. 300-310Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Optimal phasing of the European tidal stream resource using the greedy algorithm with penalty function
Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J. & Hashemi, M. R., 22 Jul 2014, In: Energy. 73, p. 997-1006Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Inter-annual and inter-seasonal variability of the Orkney wave power resource
Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J., Hashemi, M. R., Slater, E., Lawrence, J. & Spall, S. A., 1 Aug 2014, In: Applied Energy. 132, p. 339-348Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Impact of tidal-stream arrays in relation to the natural variability of sedimentary processes
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P. & Lewis, M. J., 8 Aug 2014, In: Renewable Energy. 72, p. 311-321Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
A coupled tide-wave model for the NW European shelf seas
Hashemi, R. M., Neill, S. P. & Davies, A. G., 14 Aug 2014, In: Geophysical and Astrophysical Fluid Dynamics.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Metagenetic analysis of patterns of distribution and diversity of marine meiobenthic eukaryotes
Fonseca, V. G., Carvalho, G. R., Nichols, B., Quince, C., Johnson, H. F., Neill, S. P., Lambshead, J. D., Thomas, W. K., Power, D. M. & Creer, S., 25 Aug 2014, In: Global Ecology and Biogeography. 23, 11, p. 1293–1302Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Realistic wave conditions and their influence on quantifying the tidal stream energy resource
Lewis, M. J., Neill, S. P. & Hashemi, M. R., 8 Oct 2014, In: Applied Energy. 136, p. 495-508Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Environmental metabarcoding reveals heterogeneous drivers of microbial eukaryote diversity in contrasting estuarine ecosystems
Lallias, D. S., Lallias, D., Hiddink, J. G., Fonseca, V. G., Gaspar, J. M., Sung, W., Neill, S. P., Barnes, N., Ferrero, T., Hall, N., Lambshead, P. J., Packer, M., Thomas, W. K. & Creer, S., 25 Nov 2014, In: The ISME Journal. 9, p. 1208-1221Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Inter-annual variability of two contrasting offshore sand banks in a region of extreme tidal range
Lewis, M. J., Neill, S. P. & Elliott, A. J., 10 Dec 2014, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 31, 2, p. 265-275Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2015
- Published
Effect of waves on the tidal energy resource at a planned tidal stream array
Hashemi, M. R., Neill, S. P., Robins, P. E., Davies, A. G. & Lewis, M. J., Mar 2015, In: Renewable Energy. 75, p. 626-639Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Resource assessment for future generations of tidal-stream energy arrays
Lewis, M., Neill, S. P., Robins, P. E. & Hashemi, M. R., 1 Apr 2015, In: Energy. 83, p. 403-415Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Some numerical aspects of modelling flow around hydraulic structures using incompressible SPH
Ghadampour, Z., Hashemi, M. R., Talebbeydokhti, N., Neill, S. P. & Nikseresht, A. H., 8 May 2015, In: Computers and Mathematics with Applications. 69, 12, p. 1470-1483Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Classifying seabed sediment type using simulated tidal-induced bed shear stress
Ward, S. L., Neill, S. P., Van Landeghem, K. J. & Scourse, J. D., 30 May 2015, In: Marine Geology. 367, p. 94-104Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characterising the spatial and temporal variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over the northwest European shelf seas
Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J. & Ward, S. L., 1 Jun 2015, In: Applied Energy. 147, p. 510-522Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Characterizing the tidal energy resource of the West Anglesey Demonstration Zone (UK), using TELEMAC-2D and field observations
Piano, M., Ward, S. L., Robins, P. E., Neill, S. P., Lewis, M. J., Davies, A. G., Powell, B. I., Owen, A. W. & Hashemi, R. M., 15 Oct 2015.Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
- Published
A new Holocene relative sea-level curve for western Brittany (France): Insights on isostatic dynamics along the Atlantic coasts of north-western Europe
Goslin, J., Van Vliet Lanoe, B., Spada, G., Bradley, S., Tarasov, L., Neill, S. P. & Suanez, S., 5 Nov 2015, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 129, p. 341-365Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- Published
Impact of climate change on UK estuaries: A review of past trends and potential projections
Robins, P. E., Skov, M. W., Lewis, M. J., Gimenez, L., Davies, A. G., Malham, S. K., Neill, S. P., McDonald, J. E., Whitton, T. A., Jackson, S. E. & Jago, C. F., 17 Dec 2015, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 169, p. 119-135Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
- 2016
- Published
Tidal energy leasing and tidal phasing
Neill, S. P., Hashemi, M. R. & Lewis, M. J., Jan 2016, In: Renewable Energy. 85, p. 580-587Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review